Where: Candlestick Park, San Francisco (outdoors)
When: Sunday, 4:25 p.m. ET (Fox)
Spread: 49ers by 16.5
Records: 49ers (10-4-1; NFC West 2-2-1); Cardinals (5-10, NFC West 1-4)
Past results: Two most recent meetings -- Oct. 29, 2012, 49ers 24, Cardinals 3; Dec. 11, 2011, Cardinals 21, 49ers 19. Series record: 49ers lead 24-17.
What matters: The last times these two teams met, Alex Smith was almost perfect, completing 18 of 19 passes for 232 yards in a 24-3 win in Week 8. Now he's not even starting; Colin Kaepernick has assumed the starting role. Coming off his lowest rated game of the season in a 42-13 loss to Seattle, Kaepernick will try to recapture his momentum heading into the playoffs. Arizona, be wary.
Who matters: Arizona QB Brian Hoyer. Arizona once more found itself involved in the least-fun quarterback carousel of all time on Sunday, as Brian Hoyer replaced Ryan Lindley against the Bears after Lindley struggled. Not that it mattered; the Cardinals lost, 28-13. Hoyer actually performed worse than Lindley in terms of quarterback rating (55.0 to 51.4), but he gets the call once again this week. Facing a stout San Francisco defense with what remains one of the most porous offensive lines in all of the NFL, it might not matter who's standing -- or sitting -- behind center.
Key matchups: Arizona RB Beanie Wells vs. San Francisco front seven: The 49ers are hurting up front, with Justin Smith sidelined with a partially torn pectoral muscle, but they are still among the toughest matchups in the NFL. Wells, meanwhile, has not found his footing since returning from a toe injury, although he has found the end zone often. He has five touchdowns in his last four games, but he scored three times in one game and twice in another. He was held scoreless and had just three yards on four carries against the Bears.
Injuries of note: Wide receivers LaRon Byrd (knee) and Early Doucet (concussion) both missed practice on Wednesday and Thursday. ... Running back Anthony Sherman (knee), tackle Nate Potter (ankle) and safety Kerry Rhodes (illness) also missed practice and their status is in doubt. ... San Francisco wide receiver Mario Manningham (knee) and defensive lineman Justin Smith (chest) are out for the 49ers.
Inside stuff: The Cardinals have long known their season would be ending with San Francisco, but for a while they expected the matchup to be almost a breeze. The 49ers at one point were sitting pretty and heading straight toward a first-round bye in the playoffs. San Francisco is coming off their worst loss since Jim Harbaugh took over before the 2011 season, and the 49ers are hampered by significant injuries across the field, so they will assuredly not be taking things lightly against the Cards.
Stat you should know: Arizona's quarterback issues have been well documented, but the depth of their lack of success is only fully being realized now. Done in by an offensive line hanging by a thread, Arizona quarterbacks have not thrown a touchdown pass in the last six games.
Looking ahead: The Cardinals have no remaining games.
Prediction: 49ers 33, Cardinals 10.
For more news and analysis from Cardinals blogger Jon Gold, follow @CBSCardinals on Twitter.
